Premature birth is birth that happens before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Premature babies may stay in the hospital longer and are at risk of several health complications. Progesterone treatment can be used to prevent premature birth in some mothers. You need to talk to your doctor about your options.

Progesterone treatment to prevent premature birth.

Progesterone is a hormone that plays a key role during pregnancy. It helps in the growth of the uterus and prevents it from having contractions. Contractions  during early pregnancy can lead to miscarriage.

Later in pregnancy, this hormone helps the body get ready for breast milk. It also helps the lungs work harder to  give oxygen  to your growing baby.

There are 2 kinds of progesterone treatment.

Vaginal progesterone : It reduces your risk of premature birth if you have a short cervix and pregnant with only one baby.

Progesterone shots : This reduces your risk  of premature birth if you have had premature birth in the past and are pregnant with only one baby.

NOTE

This hormones treatment if not for you if you are pregnant with multiples. It is only for women with just one baby.

What is vaginal progesterone ?

This may help prevent  premature birth but only if you fall into the following category.

• you have a short cervix
• you are pregnant with just one baby

If you qualify for this procedure, you healthcare provider will give you prescription for vaginal progesterone.  It comes as a gel, suppository or cream.  You will use an applicator to put the progesterone in your vagina every day. Treatment may begin before or up 24 weeks of pregnancy. You can keep taking it until just 37 weeks. This treatment has no known side effects to your or your baby.  This treatment does not always  work to prevent premature birth

What are progesterone shots ?

These shots are also known as  17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (also called 17P).  They may help prevent premature birth if you fall into the following category.

• you’ve had a spontaneous premature birth before when you were pregnant with just one baby. Spontaneous means labor begun on its own without the intervention of any drugs or other methods. It could also mean that the sac around the baby broke early causing contractions
• you are carrying a single baby’

If you qualify, your health care provider will prescribe progesterone shots for you. The shots can begin between 16 to 24 weeks of pregnancy. You will get this shot until 37 weeks. They shots are available in two different ways.

• as a brand name drug called Makena
• prepared as a compound by special pharmacist. This type is recommended for those who have medical  condition such as Makena

Even though you may get the progesterone shot, they don’t always prevent premature birth.
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